New and interesting details on the Biden administration's last-ditch effort to reach a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal:
A senior U.S. official told reporters that the decision to publish the joint statement and convene the summit next week was the result of the phone calls President Biden had on Tuesday with the Emir of Qatar and the President of Egypt. The U.S. official said that convening a summit was a proposal of the Egyptians and Qataris and President Biden supported it
The U.S. official said that before the summit on Thursday, there will be preparatory talks by teams from all sides to lay the ground
"On Thursday the negotiations will be resumed. We do not expect to reach an agreement on Thursday. This is a beginning and not an end. There is an urgency to get this process back on track," the U.S. official said
The U.S. official noted that gaps remain in four or five issues related to the implementation of the hostage and ceasefire deal and that both sides have tough positions on these issues
He stressed that if by Thursday there is no closing of gaps between Israel and Hamas and if the U.S., Egypt and Qatar think it could help - they might present a bridging proposal to close the gaps
“The gaps that remain are bridgeable and we don't have time to lose,” the U.S. official said. "We had deep discussions with the Israelis this week. We think there is a way forward. Israel and Hamas will have to make decisions. Most of the work has been done and the deal is on the table - and it is possible to get a deal. There are lives on the line”.
The U.S. official said that the invitation to the summit is not directly related to the regional tensions with Iran and Hezbollah and emphasized that it is necessary to reach a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza regardless
"But Iran has publicly stated that if there is a ceasefire in Gaza it may affect its position. If they start on a major war in the Middle East and launch an attack on Israel, it will jeopardize any chance of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza”, the U.S. official said
He further emphasized that there is no legitimate basis for Iran to launch a military attack against Israel. "The consequences of such an attack would be serious for Iran and its economy," the U.S. official said
A senior U.S. official told reporters that the decision to publish the joint statement and convene the summit next week was the result of the phone calls President Biden had on Tuesday with the Emir of Qatar and the President of Egypt. The U.S. official said that convening a summit was a proposal of the Egyptians and Qataris and President Biden supported it
The U.S. official said that before the summit on Thursday, there will be preparatory talks by teams from all sides to lay the ground
"On Thursday the negotiations will be resumed. We do not expect to reach an agreement on Thursday. This is a beginning and not an end. There is an urgency to get this process back on track," the U.S. official said
The U.S. official noted that gaps remain in four or five issues related to the implementation of the hostage and ceasefire deal and that both sides have tough positions on these issues
He stressed that if by Thursday there is no closing of gaps between Israel and Hamas and if the U.S., Egypt and Qatar think it could help - they might present a bridging proposal to close the gaps
“The gaps that remain are bridgeable and we don't have time to lose,” the U.S. official said. "We had deep discussions with the Israelis this week. We think there is a way forward. Israel and Hamas will have to make decisions. Most of the work has been done and the deal is on the table - and it is possible to get a deal. There are lives on the line”.
The U.S. official said that the invitation to the summit is not directly related to the regional tensions with Iran and Hezbollah and emphasized that it is necessary to reach a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza regardless
"But Iran has publicly stated that if there is a ceasefire in Gaza it may affect its position. If they start on a major war in the Middle East and launch an attack on Israel, it will jeopardize any chance of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza”, the U.S. official said
He further emphasized that there is no legitimate basis for Iran to launch a military attack against Israel. "The consequences of such an attack would be serious for Iran and its economy," the U.S. official said